Filing device.



S. E. TROUT.

FILING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1913.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

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FILING DEVICE.

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SILAS EDGAR TROUT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FILING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed September 15, 1913. Serial No. 789,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAsEnGAR TROUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filing Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved filing device, or transfer box, and is especially designed for the retention and segregation of cards, bills, invoices, contracts, vouchers, correspondence, or other articles, ready location of which may be desirable.

The provision of means for the vertical retention of the contents, preventing sagging or buckling thereof, and permitting removal of a portion thereof without confusion or disarrangement of that remaining; the elimination of followers and other instrumentalities placed in and on a receptacle to maintain guide boards or spacers in a predetermined position; and the accomplishment of these results by a device which is simple, practical, and economical of manufacture, are objects of the present invention.

A filing device comprising my invention may be used separately, or placed in the interior of a permanent file or drawer. In either instance, when it has been filled, it is merely necessary to remove it, insert a cover. and the file box becomes a transfer box for the permanent storage of the contents, maintaining them in the positions occupied when originally filed. This arrangement eliminates the confusion, disorder, and disarrangement whichfrequently resulted when it became necessary to remove papers and the like from the permanent file to a transfer box for storage.

In this connection, the device may be said to be a combination filing and transfer box. The provision of a cover retaining instrumentality permits the contents being kept free from dust, mice or vermin, and aids materially in the furtherance of fire and water proof storage.

These and other objects and advantages will in part be apparent, and in part be made clear in the description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings, made a part hereof, there is illustrated a form of my invention wherein':

Figure 1 is a View in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a cross section;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section;

Fig. 4: is a detail in perspective showing a manner of assembling the parts; and i Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same.

An embodiment of my invention constructed in accordance with the principles thereof herein illustrated, may be said to comprise a receptacle or emitainer, provided with means for the retention of guide boards or spacers in approximately vertical position. The guide board supports are shown as forming an integral part of the sides of the receptacle, the sides being so constructed that they each form also, cover retaining means, a supporting flange, and provide a space for the reception of the lugs on the guide boards. I

There is also illustrated a manner of associating the parts whereby they may be readily assembled and disassembled for convenience in shipping, storing. and the like.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates generally a receptacle. having a bottom end portions 3, and sides 4.. and 5. An angularly extended portion 6 of each side is carried upwardly as at 7 and bent inwardly as at 8 to form a groove or guideway 9. The portion 8 is preferably of less width than the portion 6 for reasons later to be brought out. and is bent back upon itself to form a top section 10. Here the material is carried downwardly in ap 'n'oximate parallelism with the side, as at 11, where it is bent inwardly into engagement therewith, and forms the flange or extension 12. By this arrangement, there is provided between the sides, and the portions 11, a space 13, access to which is permitted through slots 14 in the sides.

The slots 14 are disposed on opposite sides of the receptacle, and are extended into the portion 6 a sufficient distance to permit the insertion of lugs or projections 15 on guide boards or spacers 17. The portion 6 being wider than the portion 8, permits the lugs on the guideboards to extend into the space 13, thus permitting a certain amount of bulging 0f the guideboard without displacing the lugs or causing them to be forced from the slots. This construction forms an important feature of the present invention, and is to be distinguished from top extensions, lugs, or other drawer supports.

By constructing the sides, spacer lug inclosures, and supporting flanges in the manner described, a continuous unbroken interior surface is provided for the matter to be filed, and when used as an insert, as described below, the device detracts from the interior area of the permanent filing device only by the thickness of the material used.

As most ofthe permanent filing devices at present in use have sides of less height than the end portions, the extended portions of the present device will occupy this space, the supporting flanges being generally made of a thickness corresponding to the width of the side of the permanent filing device upon which it is to rest. By this arrangement, an insert drawer of small depth may be used with a file case of much greater depth, and both be utilized for filing purposes at the same time, if found desirable.

When filled, and it is desired to transfer the contents of the file for storage, the box may be removed, and the supporting flanges placed upon the pins, lugs, or rollers generally provided for this purpose in skeleton or other transfer or storage cases. When used with a cover, complete closure of the spacer lugs and contents will result, thus eliminating dust and vermin, and aiding materially in the furtherance of fire-proof storage.

A manner in which the parts may be associated where it may be desirable to disassemble them for convenience in shipping or storing, is illustrated in Figs. 4, and 5. In this construction, the bottom is preferably formed in sections, as 2, and 2, while both sides and bottom are provided with angular extensions 18, adapted to fit snugly into.

slots 19 in the end sections.

Means for impositively locking the parts in assembled position are provided. and as here illustrated consist of projections 20 carried by the angulated extensions 18, and enacting with corresponding depressions 21 on the end sections. When disassembled, the end sections may be placed inside the side portions, thus forming a compact structure which takes up little room, and may be easily stacked.

While I have described my invention and illustrated some of its principles in the embodiment herein shown, it will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction of this disclosure, nor to any particular manner by which the same has been or may be carried into eifect, as many changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the main principles of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A filing device comprising a receptacle having sides, and extended portions thereof in spaced relation thereto, to form receptacle supporting members; means formed integral with said sides for supporting spacer ele ments; spacers carried by said means; and a cover retaining instrumentality disposed on said extended portion.

2. A filing device comprising a receptacle having extended portions thereof arranged in spaced relation to surfaces of the receptacle, to form supporting members and spacer lug inclosures.

3. A filing device comprising a receptacle having sides, and extended portions disposed in spaced relation to said sides; said receptacle being constructed for supporting spacer elements.

4. A filing device comprising a receptacle having extended portions arranged in spaced relation to -surfaces of the sides of the receptacle to form supporting members therefor; means on the receptacle for supporting spacer elements; and spacers carried by said means.

5. A filing device comprising a receptacle having extended portions arranged in spaced relation to surfaces of the sides of the receptacle to form supporting members;

means on the receptacle for supporting spacer elements; spacers carried by said means; and a cover retaining instrumentality on said receptacle.

6. A filing device comprising a receptacle including sides having extended portions thereof in spaced relation to said sides and carried back into engagement therewith to form spacer lug inclosures and receptacle supporting members.

7. A filing device comprising a receptacle including sides having extensions in spaced relation to said sides and carried back into engagement therewith to form inclosures for a portion of a spacer element and receptacle supporting members; and a portion of said sides being constructed for supporting spacer elements.

8. A filing device comprising a receptacle including sides having extensions. in spaced relation to said sides and carried back into engagement therewith to form inclosures for a portion of a spacer element and receptacle supporting members; said sides being constructed for supporting spacer elements; and spacers carrier thereby.

9. A filing device comprising a receptacle including sides having extended portions in spaced relation to said sides and carried back into engagement therewith to form spacer lug inclosures and receptacle supporting members; and a cover retaining instrumentalit disposed on said sides.

10. A filing device comprising a receptacle including sides having extensions in spaced relation to said sides and carried back into engagement therewith to form inclosures for a portion of a spacer element and receptacle supporting means; a cover retaining instrumentality on said receptacle; said sides being constructed for supporting spacer elements; and spacers carried thereby.

11. A filing device comprising a receptacle having sides bent to form cover retaining flanges; said flanges having extended portions forming receptacle supporting members.

12. A filing device comprising a receptacle having sides bent to form cover re taining flanges; said flanges having extended portions forming receptacle supporting members; and said sides being constructed for supporting spacer elements.

13. A filing device comprising a receptacle having sides bent to form cover retaining flanges; said flanges having extended portions forming receptacle supporting members; said sides being constructed for supporting spacer elements; and spacers carried by said means.

14. A filing device comprising side, bottom, and end sections adapted to be joined to form a receptacle; said side sections being bent to form cover retaining flanges, and having slots for the retention of spacer elements; said flanges having extended portions disposed in spaced relation to said sides to form receptacle. supporting members, and provide a spacer lug receiving space; and spacers carried by said slots, and having lugs disposed in the lug receiving space.

15. A- filing device comprising side, bottom, and end sections adapted to be joined to form a receptacle; said side sections being bent to form cover retaining flanges, and

having slots for the retention of spacer elements; said flanges having extended portions disposed in spaced relation to said sides to form receptacle supporting mem-' bers, and provide a spacer lug receiving space adjacent to each side: spacerscarried by said slots, and having lugs disposed in said lug receiving spaces; and means for impositively locking the portions when joined to form a receptacle.

16. A combined filing and transfer device comprising side, bottom, and end sections adapted to be joined to form a receptacle;

each side section being bent outwardly at its upper portion to form a ridge having a portion extended upwardly and inwardly to form a cover retaining flange; said flanges having portions extended outwardly and downwardly in spaced relation to the sides and bent toward the sides to form receptacle supporting members, and provide a spacer lug receiving space adjacent to each side; said sides being provided with slots extending into said ridges; spacer elements disposed in substantially vertical position in said slots, .and having lugs extending into said lug receiving spaces; and means for impositively locking the portions when joined to form a receptacle.

17 A filing device comprising side, bottom, and end sections adapted to be joined to form a receptacle a plurality of said sections having portions extended in spaced relation thereto, and carried back into engagement therewith to form a housing for spacer lugs, and receptacle supporting members; and the said sections which have the extensions being constructed for retaining spacers.

18. A filing device comprising side, bottom, and end sections adapted to be joined to form a receptacle; a plurality of said sections having portions extended in spaced relation thereto, and carried back into engagement tlr'erewith to form a housing for spacer lugs, and receptacle supporting members; the said sections which have the extensions being constructed for retaining spacer elements; and spacers having extended portions disposed.in said housing, retained by said spacer retaining means.

19. A filing device comprising side, bottom, and end sections adapted to be joined to form a receptacle; said side sections having extended portions in spaced relation thereto, forming therewith housings for spacer lugs, and receptacle supporting members; said side sections being also constructed for retaining spacer elements; spacers retained by said means; and means for impositively locking said members in assembled position when joined to form a receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. SILAS EDGAR TROUT.

Witnesses:

E. R. WILSON, W. P. RAINE. 

